Doctor Mark Cross MBChB, MRCPsych(UK), FRANZCP is a consultant psychiatrist with clinical experience spanning three decades. He was the lead psychiatrist on two series of the ground-breaking ABC series Changing Minds.

His latest book Mental State, navigating Australia’s insane mental health system and how to fix is is published on 31stJuly 2024. He’s already the best-selling author of two books, appears regularly in the media and is the founder of The Anxious Shrink on Facebook, which has reached around a million people - it’s anxiety advice that won’t make you more anxious.

Mark graduated as a doctor in Cape Town, specialised in the UK, and has worked as a specialist in Sydney since 2005, and is a former board member and current patron of SANE.

He holds senior conjoint lecturer positions at the Universities of NSW and Western Sydney. In addition to anxiety, Mark has special interests in sexuality issues, mental health in the workplace and improving the care and quality of life of people with lived experience.

In 2015, Mark received the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists NSW Branch Meritorious Award for his “significant contribution” to psychiatry.

Mark also has lived experience of one of the conditions he treats - he’s been anxious since he was four. His empathy and humour make him one of Australia’s most loved psychiatrists.

Mark has been married to his husband John for more than 20 years and has two sons. In 2021 he was honored with the Australian Community Father of the Year award. They live with their dog Rafi.